Cycling: Champions defend titles

Canterbury pair Fiona Carswell and Hayden Godfrey claimed the first two senior events by defending their time trial titles at the New Zealand track cycling championships in Wanganui last night.

Carswell gave the national selectors something to think about when she came within 1/1500th of her national record to win the senior 500m time trial. Carswell is aiming for a national recall for the Commonwealth Games after taking last year off international competition.

Carswell, riding last, had to overhaul the best time of the night, set just before her run by 20-year-old Aucklander Elisabeth Williams, who clocked 37.416s, and managed 36.635s.

Godfrey recorded 1min 05.820s in the last ride of the night.

By the end of the session, Auckland, Canterbury and hosts West Coast North Island each had two wins, but Auckland had dominated the placings with six seconds and three thirds to lead the team standings.

- NZPA